GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 36, L09706, doi:10.
1029/2008GL037135, 2009
Analysis of variations of cloud and aerosol properties associated with
active and break spells of Indian summer monsoon using MODIS data
V. Ravi Kiran,1 M. Rajeevan,2 S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao,1 and N. Prabhakara Rao1
Received 26 December 2008; revised 25 March 2009; accepted 27 March 2009; published 7 May 2009.
[1] Indian summer monsoon exhibits significant intra-
seasonal variations with active and break monsoon spells.
Using MODIS data of 8 years (2000 –2007), variations
of cloud and aerosol properties over the Indian region
associated with the active and break spells were examined.
The study shows statistically significant variations of cloud
properties (cloud optical depth, cloud fraction and cloud top
pressure) between active and break monsoon days over
central and northeast India and the equatorial Indian
Ocean. During the monsoon break spells, associated with
the anomalous circulation, aerosol loading from the north
Arabian Sea is transported to central India. This increase in
aerosol content decreases the cloud effective radii, suggesting
the indirect effect of aerosols on cloud properties. There is
also an inverse relationship of cloud properties over the
monsoon zone over central India and the southeast equatorial
Indian Ocean, suggesting possible role of southeast
equatorial Indian Ocean on the development of active-
break cycles. Citation: Ravi Kiran, V., M. Rajeevan, S. Vijaya
Bhaskara Rao, and N. Prabhakara Rao (2009), Analysis of
variations of cloud and aerosol properties associated with active
and break spells of Indian summer monsoon using MODIS data,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L09706, doi:10.1029/2008GL037135.
1. Introduction
[2] During the Indian monsoon season (June to Septem-
ber), a substantial component of the variability in convec-
tion and rainfall over the region arises from the fluctuation
on the intra-seasonal scale between active spells with good
rainfall distribution and weak spells, called breaks with
suppressed rainfall. Frequent or prolonged breaks during
the season, such as the break in July 2002, can lead to
drought conditions. Therefore, better understanding and
eventually the prediction of these active-cycles, their dura-
tion and intensity, is very important. Ramamurthy [1969]
considered a set of synoptic conditions along with the
rainfall activity to define the monsoon breaks. Gadgil and
Joseph [2003] and Rajeevan et al. [2008] have defined
break (active) days based on daily rainfall anomaly over
central India.
[3] A major focus of the Continental Tropical Conver-
gence Zone (CTCZ) programme [Indian Climate Research
Programme, 2008] in India is the intra-seasonal variation of
the CTCZ (Indian monsoon trough zone) and in particular
the transition between the heat trough regime characterizing
long intense dry spells/breaks and the moist convective
1
Department of Physics, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, India.
2
National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Gadanki, India.
Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.
0094-8276/09/2008GL037135
L09706
regime of the TCZ. It is important to examine the variations
of clouds and aerosol properties associated with the transi-
tion between the heat trough regime characterizing long
intense dry spells/breaks and the moist convective regime of
the CTCZ. The present study is designed to examine the
variations of cloud and aerosol properties associated with
the active and break monsoon spells using the MODerate
resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data.
2. Data and Methodology
[4] For this study, we have used 8 years (2000 – 2007) of
MODIS data. MODIS is a 36 band scanning radiometer
onboard NASA’s Terra and Aqua EOS platforms. Infrared,
visible channels are used in retrieving cloud top properties,
optical and microphysical properties respectively at pixel
level also called Level-2(L2) products [Platnick et al., 2003;
King et al., 2003]. At pixel level the resolution of cloud top
properties is 5 km, cloud optical and microphysical proper-
ties is 1km and aerosol products is 10 km.A set of global
gridded products of daily, weekly and monthly time scales
at 1°  1° resolution is derived from L2 products and are
labeled as Level-3(L3) products. For this study, we have
used the new version of daily L3 cloud products viz.,
(daytime) cloud fraction, (daytime) cloud top pressure,
(combined liquid& ice phase) cloud optical depth, (com-
bined liquid& ice phase) cloud effective radius, Aerosol
optical depth (500 nm) for the period 2000 – 2007.
[5] For examining the variations of cloud and aerosol
properties associated with the active and break monsoon
spells, we have identified the active and break spells during
the period 2000 – 2007 using the criteria proposed by
Rajeevan et al. [2008]. The active (break) spell is defined
if the daily standardized rainfall anomaly (which is a unit
less quantity) over the central India is more (less) than 1.0
( 1.0), consecutively for 3 days or more. The composite
cloud and aerosol properties during active and break spells
were derived by averaging daily data of cloud and aerosol
data for these active and break days separately. To ascertain
the statistical significance of the difference between active
and break days, we have used the Z-test, which is meant for
the data sets of large sample size with unequal variance. The
active and break spells during the period 2000 – 2007
considered for this study are given in Table 1. The spatial
pattern of mean rainfall anomaly during the active and break
days is shown in Figure S1 (auxiliary material).1 During the
active days, positive rainfall anomaly is observed over the
CTCZ region and along the west coast. During the break
days, rainfall is suppressed over the CTCZ region and also
1
Auxiliary materials are available in the HTML. doi:10.1029/
2008GL037135.
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Table 1. Monsoon Active and Break Spells Considered in the Study

Year Active Spells Break Spells
2000 12 – 15 July, 17 – 20 July 1 – 9 Aug
2001 9 – 12 July 31 July – 2 Aug, 26 – 30 Aug
2002 — 4 – 17 July, 21 – 31 July
2003 26 – 28 July —
2004 30 July – 1 Aug 10 – 13 July, 19 – 21 July,26 – 31 Aug
2005 1 – 4 July, 27 July – 1 Aug 7 – 14 Aug, 24 – 31 Aug
2006 3 – 6 July, 28 July – 2 Aug, 5 – 7 Aug, 13 – 22 Aug —
2007 1 – 4 July, 6 – 9 July, 6 – 9 Aug 18 – 22 July, 15 – 17 Aug

along the west coast. However, it is enhanced over north
east India, close to the foothills of Himalayas.
3. Spatial Pattern of Cloud Properties
[6] Figure 1a shows the spatial distribution of mean cloud
fraction (CFR) during the active and break days and the
differences between them. Due to the presence of CTCZ
and associated monsoon weather systems, cloud fraction
exceeding 0.8 is observed over the Indian region, north of
10°N, including the west coast. During the break days,
cloud fraction is reduced over the Arabian Sea and north-
west India, while it is enhanced over northeast India and
adjoining east China and over the south equatorial Indian
Ocean. The differences between the active and break days
are statistically significant over northwest India, west coast
and adjoining Arabian sea, northeast India and the east
equatorial Indian Ocean. It is interesting to note that even
during the break days, cloud fraction over the CTCZ region
does not fall below 0.7. The total cloud amount considered
here includes the effect of all type of clouds, low, middle
and high clouds. Rajeevan and Srinivasan [2000] and
Balachandran and Rajeevan [2008] showed that the most
significant difference between the excess and deficient
monsoon years is observed in high and deep convective
clouds, with cloud top pressure lower than 300 hPa. During
the break days, weak ascending motion is observed over the
CTCZ region due to the presence of a heat trough [Raghavan,
1973; Rajeevan et al., 2008]. The heat trough is an elongated
heat low with weak ascent in the lower levels with subsi-
dence above. With the presence of a heat trough, non-
precipitating shallow clouds may be present over the CTCZ
region.
[7] Figure 1b shows the spatial distribution of mean
cloud optical depth (COD) during the active and break days
and the differences between them. During the active days,
high COD exceeding 25 is observed over the CTCZ region
and north Bay of Bengal. During the break days, due to the
shift in the convective activity, COD values reduce signif-
icantly over the CTCZ region. However, over northeast

Figure 1. (a) Mean cloud fraction during (left) active and (middle) break and (right) the difference between active and
break (active-break) days. In Figure 1a (right), the differences which are statistically significant at 95% level are contoured
using thick lines. Same but for (b) cloud optical depth and (c) cloud top pressure.

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Figure 2. Scatterplots of (a) COD and (b) CTP for the active and break days.
parts of India and adjoining eastern parts of China, COD
values exceeding 25 are observed. Another area with
enhanced COD values during the break days is the south-
east equatorial Indian Ocean. The differences between the
active and break days are statistically significant over the
CTCZ region, southeast equatorial Indian Ocean and also
parts of eastern China.
[8] Figure 1c shows the spatial distribution of mean cloud
top pressure (CTP) during the active and break days and the
differences between them. During the active days, clouds
with top pressure below 300 hPa are observed over north
Bay of Bengal and northwestern parts of India. However,
over the CTCZ region, cloud top pressures do not reach
300 hPa. Therefore, rainfall over the CTCZ region is not
associated with deep convective clouds, with cloud top
lower than 300 hPa. The deepest clouds are however
observed over north Bay of Bengal. During the break spells,
there is a distinct spatial pattern. Associated with the shift in
convective regions, deep convective clouds are observed
over northeast India and the equatorial Indian Ocean. It is
important to note that the difference in the intensity of
convection between active and break days. Over northeast
India and southeast Indian Ocean, convection is more
intense and penetrated with cloud top pressures below even
100 hPa, compared to convection over north Bay of Bengal.
The differences of CTP between active and break days are
statistically significant over northwest India, parts of north-
east India and the east equatorial Indian Ocean.
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[9] To examine the dispersion in the composite pattern of
COD and CTP, we have prepared scatter diagrams of COD
and CTP averaged over the CTCZ region during the active
and break days. The results are shown in Figure 2. The red
star indicates the centroid of the scatter points. Even though
there is a spread in the active and break cases, there is clear
distinction between the active and break days. For example,
COD values during the active (break) days are more (less)
than 14. Similarly, there is a distinction in the CTP values
also. CTP values during the active (break) days are less
(more) than 500 hPa.
4. Spatial Pattern of Aerosol and Its Indirect
Effect
[10] There are studies highlighting the role of atmospheric
aerosols in modulating the strength of Indian monsoon
circulation [Patra et al., 2005; Vinoj et al., 2004; Rahul et
al., 2008]. The recent article by Ramanathan and Carmichael
[2008] reviewed the role of absorbing black aerosols in
modulating the Indian monsoon circulation and rainfall.
[11] Using the MODIS data, we have examined the
variations of aerosol optical depth between the active and
break days. The results are shown in Figure 3a. During the
active monsoon days, most of aerosol content is confined
over extreme northwest India, adjoining Pakistan and north
Arabian Sea. This is the region of monsoon heat low
circulation with intense heating at the surface and large
scale subsidence above the boundary layer. During the
L09706 RAVI KIRAN ET AL.: CLOUD VARIATION DURING INDIAN MONSOON L09706

Figure 3. (a) Mean aerosol optical depth during (left) active and (middle) break and (right) the difference between active
and break (active-break) days. In Figure 3a (right), the differences which are statistically significant at 95% level are
contoured using thick lines. (b) The same but for the cloud effective radius.

break spells, aerosol content is substantially increased over
the CTCZ region, while it is substantially reduced over
north Arabian Sea. There is a transition in the circulation
over central India from the moist convective circulation
with large scale ascent during the active spells to a dry heat
trough type circulation during the break spells [Raghavan,
1973; Rajeevan et al., 2008]. The composite wind anoma-
lies at 850 hPa during the break days are shown in Figure S2.
The circulation pattern shows anomalous anticyclone over
central India with southerlies over north Arabian Sea and
westerlies over central India. Therefore, it can be inferred
that the significant increase in the aerosol content over
central India is due to transportation of aerosol from north
Arabian Sea and adjoining deserts to central parts of India.
Once transported, aerosol is trapped in the lower boundary
due to large scale subsidence associated with the heat
trough.
[12] Large aerosol concentration reduces the effective
radii of clouds and thus increases the cloud albedo and
cools the climate system [Twomey, 1977; Chylek et al.,
2006]. Since we found significant changes in the aerosol
content between active and break monsoon days, we have
further examined the corresponding changes in the cloud
effective radii of clouds. Figure 3b shows the mean effective
radii (combined effect of both warm and ice phase clouds)
during active and break days. Since northern parts of India
including Arabian sea is more polluted, mean cloud effec-
tive radii is lower (less than 20 mm), compared to the
equatorial Indian ocean, where the cloud effective radii is
more than 28mm. There are also changes in the reff between
the active and break days. During the break days, over
northwestern parts of India and central India, reff is lower
compared to the active days, confirming the indirect effect
of aerosols on clouds. However, over the eastern parts of
CTCZ region, close to north Bay of Bengal, reff during
break days is more compared to active days, in spite of an
increase in aerosol content. This is not an agreement with
the known indirect effect of aerosols. In the present study,
we have not examined variations of reff of warm and ice
phased clouds separately. A recent study by Chylek et al.
[2006] showed that over the north Indian Ocean, during the
episodes of increased pollution, the effective radius of ice
crystals is shifted toward the larger rather than smaller sizes.
They have proposed that this occurs due to a combination of
variability of meteorological conditions and an ‘‘inverse
aerosol indirect effect’’ caused by heterogeneous ice nucle-
ation as a possible explanation of observed ice crystal
growth.
[13] In the composite fields of cloud properties associated
with the active and break events, over the Oceanic region,
the most significant variations are observed over the equa-
torial southeast Indian Ocean, suggesting that equatorial
Indian Ocean may be playing an important role in the
dynamics of active-break cycles. A recent work by Wang
et al. [2005] emphasized the important role of equatorial
Indian Ocean in self-induction of active-break cycles of
Indian monsoon.
[14] To examine the simultaneous variations of cloud
properties over the monsoon zone and east equatorial Indian
Ocean, we have considered daily variation of cloud prop-
erties over these regions along with daily variations of
monsoon rainfall over central India for a specific year
(2008) as shown in Figure 4. It shows the simultaneous
variations of COD over the CTCZ region (18.5° to 27.5°N;
69.5° to 87.5°E) and the east equatorial Indian Ocean (10°S
to 0.5°N; 70.5°E to 100.5°E). It is very clear that there is an

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L09706 RAVI KIRAN ET AL.: CLOUD VARIATION DURING INDIAN MONSOON
Figure 4. (a) Time series of average of standardized
rainfall over the monsoon zone (bars), COD over the
monsoon core zone (red line) and COD over the equatorial
east Indian Ocean (black line) from 1 June to 30 September
2008. A 3-day smoothing has been done on the COD time
series.
inverse relationship between the variations over the CTCZ
region and southeast equatorial Indian Ocean. During the
active monsoon spells, COD shows large values over central
India, while low COD values are observed simultaneously
over the southeast equatorial Indian Ocean. It is the same for
cloud top pressure also. Thus, there is an inverse relation-
ship in the convection between southeast equatorial Indian
Ocean and central India.
5. Conclusions
[15] Using 8 years of MODIS data (2000 – 2007), varia-
tions of cloud properties and aerosol over the Indian region
associated with the active and break spells were examined.
Spatial variations of cloud properties show significant
variations between the active and break spells, over the
CTCZ region, northeast India and southeast equatorial
Indian Ocean. Over northeast India and southeast Indian
Ocean, convection is more intense and penetrated compared
to convection over north Bay of Bengal with cloud top
pressures below even 100 hPa. During the break spells,
associated with the anomalous wind circulation in the lower
troposphere, large aerosol content is transported into the
CTCZ region. The increase in aerosol content causes
reduction of cloud effective radii, confirming the indirect
effect of aerosols on clouds and climate system. However,
over the eastern parts of CTCZ region and adjoining north
Bay of Bengal, cloud effective radii however increases
during the break spells with increase in aerosol content.
This may be due to heterogeneous ice nucleation as sug-
gested by Chylek et al. [2006]. However, a distinction
between the cloud effect by natural and anthropogenic
aerosols is needed. The key parameters for determining
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L09706
the cloud effect are the effectiveness of an aerosol particle to
act as a cloud condensation nucleus, which is a function of
the size, chemical composition, mixing state and ambient
environment. Only a subset of the aerosol particles acts as
cloud condensation nuclei. However, more observational
and model studies are required to establish the possible
reasons of this effect and to identify the possible feedback
processes associated with aerosols and clouds over the
CTCZ region.
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N. Prabhakara Rao, V. Ravi Kiran, and S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao,
Department of Physics, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati 517 502,
India.
M. Rajeevan, National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, P. O. Box 123,
Gadanki 517 502, India. (rajeevan61@yahoo.co.in)